Visitors are revving up to travel to North Scottsdale Jan. 15-22

Rev up your 2012 travel plans and come to the Barrett-Jackson Collector Car Auction in Scottsdale January 15-22. More than 250,000 classic car lovers from all over the world flock to WestWorld of Scottsdale each year for “the world’s greatest collector car auction”; will you be one of them? Even if you don’t have six figures of bid money burning a hole in your pocket, you can enjoy all that Scottsdale has to offer away from the action of the auction block.  Kick back at one of the area’s resorts or hotels, enjoy luxurious resort spa treatments, great restaurants and bars, first-class shopping and championship golf.  The entire destination is sure to please auto enthusiasts and their friends and families alike. Read our Visitor’s Guide to Barrett-Jackson to find out where to stay, eat, expected weather and how to get around North Scottsdale near WestWorld.

Hotels and Resorts near WestWorld

(with approximate rates during Jan. 15-22)

• Scottsdale Links Resort – Rooms from $259/night
• Hilton Garden Inn North Scottsdale – Rooms from $234/night
• Fairmont Princess Resort Scottsdale – Rooms from $399/night
• Scottsdale Marriott at McDowell Mountains – Call for availability 1-888-559-2575
• Zona Resort Hotel and Suites – Call for availability 1-888-559-2575
• Residence Inn Scottsdale North – Rooms from $269
• Sleep Inn at North Scottsdale Road – Rooms from $229
• La Quinta Inn & Suites Phoenix Scottsdale – Rooms from $165

5 Places Locals Like Eat in North Scottsdale

Weather Forecast

Average January temperatures you can expect around during Barrett-Jackson around the state:

                      High / Low (F°)
Scottsdale 66° / 41°
Phoenix 67° / 46°
Sedona 56° / 28°
Prescott 51° / 21°
Flagstaff 42° / 15°
Grand Canyon
South Rim 41° / 18°
North Rim* 37° / 16°
West Rim 64° / 39°
Below the Rim 56° / 36°
Tucson 65° / 42°
Lake Havasu 66° / 40°

*North Rim is Closed Oct – May

Getting Around

Wondering if you should rent a car when you arrive in Phoenix or take a taxi/shuttle? Take it from a local, cabs here are pricey and Phoenix and Scottsdale are very large, spread-out cities. We’d hate to see you get stuck paying expensive taxi fares every time you venture out to the car auction, restaurants, shopping and golf courses. Save the cab fare and rent a car at the Phoenix airport and enjoy exploring Scottsdale on your own schedule. Sure, you won’t save enough cash to buy one of the collector cars at the auction, but you could treat yourself to a “long drive” on the golf course!

There’s really nothing quite like Spring Training in Arizona. In many other parts of the country, snow still sits on the ground, while Phoenix, Glendale and Scottsdale invite you with sunshine, baseball -America’s favorite pastime-, cold beer, happy people (regardless of who is winning the game), hot dogs, peanuts, family…you get the point. Spring Training is the time and place where people from all over the country get together and genuinely appreciate all the wonderful things being to be experienced all in one place.

Spring Training Locations

View Arizona Spring Training Map – Greater Phoenix Spring Training Sites in a larger map

• Glendale Stadium
• Goodyear Ballpark
• Hohokam Stadium
• Maryvale Baseball Park
• Peoria Sports Complex
• Phoenix Municipal Stadium
• Scottsdale Stadium
• Surprise Stadium
• Tempe Diablo Stadium
• Salt River Fields at Talking Stick

Hotel Theodore 7353 East Indian School Road Scottsdale, AZ 85251 The Hotel Theodore is your getaway to the extraordinary. This sophisticated Scottsdale oasis offers a spectrum of amenities sure to astound even the most seasoned traveler. More Info · Details on this Spring Training hotel

3 Palms Hotel 7707 East McDowell Road Scottsdale, AZ 85257 When you enter our stunning yet intimate lobby, the desert stone accents set in the hand laid white crystal granite warn you to expect something special including a level of service that some people… More Info · Details on this Spring Training hotel

W Scottsdale 7277 East Camelback Road Scottsdale, AZ 85251 Sizzling hot and sparkling cool, W Scottsdale is infused with natural water elements flowing with meditative energy surrounded by exhilarating arts, sophisticated shopping, destination golf and a… More Info · Details on this Spring Training hotel

Hilton Scottsdale Resort Villas 6333 North Scottsdale Road Scottsdale, AZ 85250-5428 Located in Scottsdale Arizona the Hilton Scottsdale Resort – Villas hotel offers impeccable accommodations in a beautiful resort-style setting. A warm welcome and exceptional luxury awaits whether… More Info · Details on this Spring Training hotel

Hotel Indigo SCOTTSDALE 4415 North Civic Center Plaza Scottsdale, AZ 85251 New Boutique Hotel in Downtown Scottsdale, Arizona Boasts Affordable Luxury Hotel Indigo Scottsdale is a new boutique hotel located in trendy Old Town Scottsdale, within walking distance of the… More Info · Details on this Spring Training hotel · Packages Available!

Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites SCOTTSDALE 3131 North Scottsdale Road Scottsdale, AZ 85251 You are invited to Stay Smart and enjoy resort style amenities beyond your expectations at the Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites Scottsdale. Whether you are coming in on business or just to get… More Info · Details on this Spring Training Hotel · Packages Available!

The Canyon Suites at The Phoenician 6000 East Camelback Road Scottsdale, AZ 85251 Valley of the Sun. Located in Scottsdale surrounded by the stunning Sonoran Desert is one of America’s most luxurious resorts. Recipient of the AAA 5 Diamond Award, Phoenician Residences, Luxury… More Info · Details on this Spring Training hotel

Hilton Garden Inn Scottsdale Old Town 7324 East Indian School Road Phoenix, AZ 85251 Free Internet (Wired, Wireless and Public Wi-Fi) Come and experience deluxe accommodations a relaxed atmosphere and true Southwestern hospitality at the Hilton Garden Inn Scottsdale Old Town hotel in Arizona. Located in the heart of Old Town our… More Info · Details on this Spring Training hotel

Mormon Lake Lodge

Dear Arizona Travel: Just want to know how to go about getting a package or something for 8 familys [sic] that has at least 5 members in a family. We went camping in Payson last year in July. Please help me with some info.
Thanks,
Cheryle

Hi, Cheryle. Wow, that’s quite a group – what fun! Are you looking for a place with lots of cabins, one for each family, or something like that? Two places come to mind that might fit everyone: Mormon Lake Lodge, which is 30 minutes southeast of Flagstaff, has cabins and a lodge and all kinds of outdoor activities. Another option is
Greer Lodge Resort and Cabins, which is in eastern Arizona, at the eastern edge of the White Mountains about 192 miles from Flagstaff (243 miles from Phoenix.) One of our Arizona Travel fans on Facebook recently posted a travel deal at the Greer Lodge, so that may be a great option for you. Both are well geared toward family reunions and large groups like yours.

A third option might be a timeshare resort such as Sedona Pines in Sedona. A switch from your groups’s camping background, this is more condo/resort, but Sedona Pines has lots of family-sized accommodations and activities for all ages on property.

I also wrote a couple recent blog posts that touch on both these accommodations… with people in similar situations… they might help you as well.

Dear Arizona Travel: Family Reunion Spot?

Dear Arizona Travel: Timeshare Rentals in Sedona?

Take care, Cheryle! Good luck!

–ChristinaToo

Dear Arizona Travel: Do you have any recommendations as to the best place to stay for a timeshare in Sedona? There are a number of timeshares listed in Interval International but no recommendations.

Thank you.

Alan

Hi, Alan. Well, I suppose that depends on what you’re looking for. However, now that Diamond Resorts owns two of the greater resort areas (the Ridge on Sedona Golf Resort, the Sedona Summit – both in the same Village of Oak Creek resort area – and the Los Abrigados Resort & Spa, located adjacent to Tlaquepaque in Uptown Sedona) you cannot go wrong with them. I personally like the Los Abrigados Resort because of its location adjacent to dining, shopping and entertainment, with the most popular part of Sedona (known as Uptown, or Main Street ) within walking distance, it’s a great launching pad for everything you want to do in Sedona. Call Diamond Resorts at 1.877.374.2582.

Another option, if you’re looking for a resort that is more all-inclusive of amenities / activities and puts you a little further remote (read: peace and quiet) try the Sedona Pines Resort. It’s in West Sedona and will afford you a central location for hiking in Boynton Canyon and Red Rock State Park. Call (928) 282-6640.

Enjoy your Sedona vacation, Alan!

–ChristinaToo

We plan a trip for our honeymoon in August to stay in Sedona for 1 week but want to drive to Phoenix and or Flagstaff. Can you suggest the best flight to take into what airport and then renting a car?  We will be flying out of a different location than where we fly in to, but do not know exactly where yet as we want to be flexible. We have a time share in Sedona for the week, but can you recommend a romantic place for a dinner or two?

Thank you,

Sandy and Bob

Photo credit: SMercury98 CC by 2.0

Hi, Sandy and Bob. Best wishes and congratulations on your upcoming wedding!

If you’re coming from or through Los Angeles (LAX) you could look for a flight on Horizon Air (horizonair.com) into Flagstaff – just 40 beautiful minutes from Sedona. (Note to readers: Sadly, Horizon Air will no longer service the Flagstaff and Prescott, Arizona airports after August 22, 2010. However, US Airways Express continues to fly into Flagstaff from Phoenix.)

However, most people – and I recommend you do the same – fly into Phoenix Sky Harbor (PHX), rent a car at the airport, and drive 90 minutes up to Sedona. You’ll see a bit of Phoenix when you fly in… you could even pop over to Old Town Scottsdale for lunch and a bit of walking through air-conditioned shops and galleries (although do be prepared for “seasonably warm temperatures!”) Drive on up to Sedona and anytime that week, you can take a beautiful 40-minute drive up 23 miles of Oak Creek Canyon toward Flagstaff for a great day trip.

[Another aside to readers: Sandy and Bob have their lodging squared away with their Sedona timeshare, but if you're looking for a romantic bed & breakfast or resort in Sedona for a once-in-a-lifetime trip like your honeymoon, I recommend El Portal Luxury Hacienda (elportalsedona.com) Sedona Cathedral Hideaway Bed & Breakfast (sedonacathedralhideaway.com), Canyon Villa Bed & Breakfast (canyonvilla.com), the Enchantment Resort & Mii Amo Spa (enchantmentresort.com), and L'Auberge Resort (lauberge.com)]

You two will find romantic dining at Savannah’s (savannahssteakhouse.com) and L’Auberge (lauberge.com). For an alternative take on romantic dining, swing by New Frontiers Natural Marketplace (1420 West Highway 89A – no website) and pick up some of their yummy prepared foods and a great bottle of wine (with a twist-off) and head up Oak Creek Canyon or Schnebly Hill Road for a romantic picnic for two overlooking some of Sedona’s best scenery. Also, don’t forget there’s great dining in Flagstaff, too! Try Tinderbox Kitchen (tinderboxkitchen.com) or Pasto (pastorestaurant.com), both located downtown.

Again, best wishes for your wedding and marriage. Take care,

– ChristinaToo

Hilton Sedona Cascades Pool

Hilton Sedona Resort and Spa is excited to announce the completion of its comprehensive $4.2 million renovation that included spa improvements, guest suite upgrades and enhanced meeting environments.

“During the past couple of years the resort has undergone extensive renovations that enhanced guest suites, meeting spaces and our world class spa,” said Hilton Sedona Resort and Spa General Manager, Edgar Lozoya.

Last fall Hilton Sedona Spa, a 25,000 square foot wellness center, completed interior and exterior upgrades, including new steam and sauna rooms, and modern pool area enhancements. The spa’s 25-meter outdoor lap pool was re-plastered and retiled, while its surrounding decking was resurfaced. The pool area was further updated with new umbrellas, lounge chairs and Sedona-inspired paint to both energize and relax guests.

Keeping luxury at the forefront of the renovation, each of the 219 guest suites received modern décor accents, large plasma flat screen televisions in both the sleeping room and living areas. Guest suite bathrooms were also improved with granite top vanities and curved shower rods.

And now, you can see the results of the renovation on the Hilton Sedona Resort & Spa’s newly renovated website, www.hiltonsedona.com. Featuring vibrant photos that capture the resort’s upscale amenities and Sedona’s majestic beauty, the new website will allure first-time guests and remind returning visitors of pleasant red-rock memories.

Lozoya added, “Often times our website serves as our guests’ first introduction to the resort, so it’s only fitting that the renovations be reflected in our Web presence.”

Hilton Sedona Resort and Spa is only 90 minutes north of Phoenix, at the gateway to world-famous red rock country along Arizona’s first designated All American Road, the Red Rock Scenic Byway. Guest accommodations feature two-room suites with separate living rooms and private patios or balconies, with breathtaking views of Sedona’s majestic red rocks or the Sedona Golf Resort.

In a recent poll on VerdeNews.com, Sedona readers selected the Hilton Sedona Resort & Spa for Best Hotel 2009. Readers honored the 219-room property as best in its category among other hotels in Sedona and the Verde Valley.

“It is always a great honor to be recognized by your peers,” said Edgar Lozoya, General Manager, Hilton Sedona Resort and Spa. “Hilton Sedona prides its self on being a boutique resort that offers guests the world famous Hilton hospitality.”

Learn more about the Hilton Sedona Resort & Spa, the only Sedona-area property with a 25,000 square foot full-service spa and championship golf course on-site at their website – www.hiltonsedona.com

Congratulations to the Hilton Sedona Resort - Sedona Reader's Choice Best Hotel 2009

The view of Sedona's red rocks spreads across the scenic byway like a "drive-in screen"

When you hear the phrase “drive-in,” do you picture the movie-screen-al-fresco of yesterday? Well, Sedona’s drive-in is something of a different sort.

Recently given the distinction of the only All-American Road in Arizona by the US Department of Transportation, the Red Rock Scenic Byway is the road on which most visitors “drive in” to Sedona. When you drive Highway 179 from Interstate 17, this 7.5 mile scenic stretch gently winds through Coconino National Forest rather unassumingly…and then BAM! the view from the byway opens up into a spectacular panorama of red rock formations including Courthouse Butte and Bell Rock.

Hilton Sedona Resort - Red Rock Scenic Byway Artist's Rendering

“Visitors have always known that Sedona’s topography is truly unique,” said Edgar Lozoya, General Manager at the Hilton Sedona Resort and Spa. “And with the U.S. Department of Transportation’s official All-American Road designation, we anticipate the area will attract even more sightseers.”

The Hilton Sedona Resort & Spa plays a key role in experiencing the Red Rock Scenic Byway as a “destination unto itself.”

“The designation of the Red Rock Scenic Byway as an All-American Road positions our resort as the welcoming point to Sedona,” said Lozoya.

Hilton Sedona Cascades Pool

The Hilton is Sedona’s only resort with a 25,000 square foot full service spa and championship golf course on-site, and it sits at the end of the Red Rock Scenic Byway with sweeping views of the entire area, known as the Gateway to Red Rock Country.

The 219-room boutique resort offers guests quick access to Sedona and majestic views of the red rocks. Its close proximity to the Red Rock Scenic Byway allows guests to explore miles of hiking trails through Coconino National Forest, access two of the world’s famous vortexes, and experience exceptional shopping and dining along the state’s All-American Road.

Near by Byway adventures include:
• Hiking, Biking and Horseback Riding – Some of the best trails in Sedona can be accessed off the byway. Enjoy over 200 miles of hiking, biking, and horseback riding trails.
• Bell Rock and Cathedral Rock Vortexes – Only minutes away from the resort, both vortexes are considered strong centers of positive energy.
• Coconino National Forest – The second largest national forest in Arizona boasts diverse landscapes, including deserts, flatlands, ancient volcanic peaks and alpine tundra.
• World Class Art – Village Gallery is a show room for 40 local artists, and regularly hosts events to allow artists to display their pieces and connect with visitors.
• Film History – Sedona’s unique beauty has been used in feature films, video productions and commercials and still serves as a film destination by annually holding the Sedona Film Festival.

Read more about the Hilton Sedona Resort & Spa at their website – www.hiltonsedona.com

Get INSPIRED this Thanksgiving

This Thanksgiving, get Inspired by works of fine art at the first-ever Fine Arts Exhibit & Sale at the Hilton Sedona Resort & Spa. Spanning the holiday weekend, November 27 – 28, 2009, this INSPIRED ’09 special event invites people from the entire Sedona and Verde Valley area and visitors from around Arizona, other states or overseas to take a holiday and come enjoy this “All Sedona Arts Weekend” event and its festivities.

Bring the Family – This inaugural event also provides a unique, INSPIRING educational opportunity for parents, teachers, students and others in the field of education to visit this exhibition of multi-media arts in every imaginable form from all over the globe. What an inspiration this will be for aspiring young artists to talk directly with these artists!

The stars of this arts event are thirty-two outstanding Sedona artists. Among the best in the greater Sedona area, they have been invited to exhibit and to sell their unique array of artistic collections.  Artists’ offerings range from art works and gifts for holiday buying as well as incredible pieces suitable for collectors.

Featured artists to include: Barbara Vickers, Celesty Claudio, James Latham, Jeannette Tuscher, Shermane Frei, Nora Graf, Jan Saunders, Betty Carr, Robert Albrecht, Mariann Leahy, Clyde Ross Morgan, James Muir, Kaayla Fox, Barbara Ragalyi, Jerry Buley, Mary Dove, Beverly Copen, Philip Ponvert, Pat Kaufmann, Dennis Ott, Jan Sitts, Gene Dieckhoner, Joan Roberts, Mel Copen, Chris Navarro, Lorraine Fexas, Daniel Hochstein, Madak Kadam, Betty Kaufmann, Shirley Eichten Albrecht, Jack Durrwachter and Gretchen Lopez.

UPDATED: Art buyers and attendees will be able to preview artists’ biographies, plus one image illustrative of their work and their contact information on the Hilton’s website. There will be live demonstrations by several of the artists during the show.

Event Details:

Dates: Friday & Saturday, November 27 & 28, 2009 – All day
Admission: Free
Location: Hilton Sedona Resort & Spa’s Grand Ballroom – 90 Ridge Trail Drive, Sedona
Information: Beverly Copen 928-284-2520
Opening Night Reception: Friday, November 27 at 5pm. Admission & entertainment is free; food & wine tickets are $25 per person and a cash bar will also be available.

In its story about Tough Times for the Travel Industry today, the TODAY Show on NBC featured the Westin Kierland Resort, right here in our own Scottsdale backyard.

While canceled meetings and scaled-back corporate events may be hurting this and other local Scottsdale resorts and hotels, the silver lining message for locals is that more hotel room inventory and the normally slower summer season here (Christmas has come early!) – which translates to super-great deals on backyard resort getaways and “staycations” that we Scottsdale locals have taken advantage of for years.

Support our Arizona hospitality industry and book your spring and summer “staycation” today.  Check out sites like our scottsdalephoenix.net for a terrific list of luxurious Scottsdale and Phoenix resorts that you can experience for sometimes less than half of their high-season rates.